Women in Our Local Food Economy

March 6, 2020

Through Community Foods, Seward Co-op lifts up farmers and producers that best align with our cooperative values and mission to sustain a healthy community. Community Foods makers and farmers meet two or more of the following attributes: local, small-scale, cooperative, inclusive, and sustainable. An inclusive Community Foods producer means their business is owned by historically underrepresented individuals. Historically, women have been underrepresented in business ownership, so we ardently believe celebrating women in our local food economy is important! We also recognize small-scale, local Community Foods producers committed to social responsibility by dedicating their resources and energy to empowering women. Celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, March 8, by purchasing Community Foods products from women-owned businesses!

Sweet Science

Since 2012, founder Ashlee Olds has been using her passion for ice cream to craft unique and complex ice cream flavors. Always made with organic, grass-fed cow’s milk and organic sugar, Sweet Science is the smoothest, most flavorful ice cream this side of the Milky Way. Ingredients are locally sourced whenever possible, often gluten-free, and never artificial. Sweet Science Ice Cream is committed to making ice cream free of stabilizers, artificial flavors, colors or gums. They rely on the properties of food science to get the most out of every organic ingredient, and make the ice cream base and every swirl, cookie, sauce and crunch by hand in St. Paul.

Women’s Environmental Institute

Founded in 2003, Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) is an environmental research, renewal and retreat center designed to create and share knowledge about environmental issues and policies relevant to women, children and identified communities affected by environmental injustice. WEI grows produce sold at Seward Co-op, while also promoting agricultural justice, organic and sustainable agriculture and ecological awareness.

WEI offers educational opportunities to rural and urban communities. WEI manages an organically certified demonstration and education farm, and operates an eco-retreat center and regional online farmers market that provides fresh, organic and sustainably grown produce for communities in East Central Minnesota.

Beez Kneez

Kristy Allen is founder and owner of The Beez Kneez, LLC. Established in 2010 and based in Minneapolis, she has grown her beekeeping social enterprise to manage up to 150 hives in the metro area, including hives at both the Franklin and Friendship stores, and at organic farms along the St. Croix River Valley using sustainable beekeeping practices, bicycle-powered honey production and delivery. She runs a pedal-powered honey extraction facility using her very own invention, The Beez Kneez Honeycycle. In addition, she offers an immersive, season-long beekeeping education program called Camp Beez Kneez.